Peters calls campaign worst seen

Winston Peters, the leader of New Zealand First, declared the 2026 general election campaign the worst he has witnessed in his political career. The veteran politician, who has contested 18 general elections, made the assessment during an appearance on Morning Report. He described the current political atmosphere as a circus, noting that other parties are struggling to fill venues but are managing to keep their activities running.

Peters expressed frustration with specific campaign tactics used by rival leaders. He criticized the popularity of the ice cream poll, describing it as an unscientific and unprofessional event that leaders attend out of obligation. He also mocked the trend of politicians petting dogs, suggesting the practice can be dangerous if the wrong animal is chosen. Furthermore, he pointed out the irony of leaders discussing a cost of living crisis while flipping hamburgers at public events.

The New Zealand First leader contrasted his party's ground game with that of ACT. While ACT leader Paul Henry claims to have spoken to 7,000 people during a national tour, Peters stated that his team has engaged with tens of thousands of voters. He emphasized that his party has packed venues, arguing that these in-person interactions serve as the true measure of public opinion rather than recent surveys. He dismissed the conflicting results of current polls, insisting that election day itself is the only valid referendum.

Peters outlined four primary issues driving his campaign: affordable housing, healthcare access, education, and wages. He urged voters to pursue education as a path to improving the economy. To achieve first-world wages, he proposed lowering the corporate tax rate, boosting productivity, and renationalizing the Bank of New Zealand. He stated that these steps are necessary to stabilize the economic outlook for the country.

When questioned about his party's record in government, Peters addressed the rise in national debt. He argued that debt levels must increase initially to fix underlying problems before they can be reduced. He told the National and ACT parties that the economy was in a worse state than they believed and that their planned tax cuts should have been delayed. He noted that they refused his warning, leading to the current situation. He concluded by criticizing the visual presentation of his opponents, comparing them to a football team holding placards.